Rivers, Joan 1933- (Pepper January)

views updated

Rivers, Joan 1933- (Pepper January)

PERSONAL

Original name, Joan Alexandra Molinsky, June 8, 1933, in Brooklyn, NY; daughter of Meyer C. (a doctor) and Beatrice (maiden name, Grushman) Molinsky; married Jimmy Sanger, 1957 (marriage annulled, 1958); married Edgar Rosenberg (a writer and producer), July 15, 1965 (died August 14, 1987); children: (second marriage) Melissa (an actress and journalist). Education: Barnard College, B.A., English and anthropology, 1954; also attended Connecticut College for Women. Politics: Republican. Religion: Jewish. Avocational Interests: Antiques, shopping.

Addresses:

Agent—TalentWorks, 3500 West Olive Ave., Suite 1400, Burbank, CA 91505.

Career:

Comedienne, actress, writer, producer, and director. Actress in television commercials; stand-up comedienne in various cities (sometimes billed as Pepper January), including New York City, Atlantic City, NJ, Las Vegas, NV, and Lake Tahoe, NV; Second City (comedy tour group), Chicago, IL, member, 1961-62; Joan Rivers Worldwide, owner, c. late 1990s; hosted daily talk show on WOR-AM, New York City, and syndicated stations 1997-2002; appeared in television commercials, including Glad Ovenware, 2001, and Geico car insurance, 2007; appeared as voice of herself on an episode of Tom Green Live! (an internet series), 2006. Joan Rivers Collection (jewelry collection), QVC Network, spokesperson, 1990—, later adding skin care, cosmetics, and fragrances under the name Joan Rivers Worldwide Enterprises; creator of the seminar You Deserve to Be Happy, 1995. Previously worked in the publicity department of Lord and Taylor department store, New York City, and as a fashion coordinator for Bond Clothing Stores. Cystic Fibrosis Society, national chairperson, 1982—; benefit performer for AIDS, 1982—; advocate for suicide prevention.

Member:

Phi Beta Kappa.

Awards, Honors:

Georgie Award, best comedienne of 1975, American Guild of Variety Artists; Las Vegas Comedienne of the Year Awards, 1976 and 1977; Clio Awards, best performance in a television commercial, 1976 and 1982; Jimmy Award for Best Comedian, 1981; Grammy Award nomination, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1983, for What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most; named woman of the year, Hadassah, 1983, and Harvard Hasty Pudding Theatricals, 1984, 1986; Humanitarian Award, 1985, Gay and Lesbian Community Services; star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1989; Daytime Emmy Award, 1990, for The Joan Rivers Show; Drama Desk Award and Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best performance by a leading actress in a play, 1994, for Sally Marr … and Her Escorts; Marymount College, D.F.A., 2000; Pratt Institute of Arts and Design, honorary doctorate, 2004; Rebekah Kohut Award, National Council of Jewish Women (New York section), 2004, for service to the community; nightclub performer of the year award, New York Friars Club.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

(Broadway debut) Jill Fairchild, Fun City, Morosco Theatre, New York City, 1972.

Kate, Broadway Bound, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1988.

Night of 100 Stars III, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1990.

Sally Marr, Sally Marr … and Her Escorts, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City, 1994.

Broke and Alone (one-woman show), Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2002, then Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, State Theatre, Sydney, Australia, State Theatre, Melbourne, Australia, and Carson Theatre, Los Angeles.

A Work In Progress by a Life in Progress, Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles, 2008.

Film Appearances:

Once Upon a Coffee House (also known as Hootenanny a Go-Go), 1965.

Joan, The Swimmer, Columbia, 1968.

Second nurse, Rabbit Test, Avco Embassy, 1978.

Herself, Uncle Scam (also known as Scandal U.S.A.), New World Pictures of Philadelphia, 1981.

Piggy's coworker, The Muppets Take Manhattan, TriStar, 1984.

(Uncredited) President Rivers, Les Patterson Saves the World, Hoyts, 1987.

Voice of Dot Matrix, Spaceballs, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1987.

(Uncredited) Voice of Julie, Look Who's Talking (also known as Daddy's Home), TriStar, 1989.

Wife of pick pocket victim, Life with Mikey (also known as Give Me a Break), 1993.

Herself, Public Enemy #2, 1993.

Herself, Serial Mom, Savoy Pictures, 1994.

Voice of Mother Penguin, Napoleon (also known as Kulta), 1995.

Voice, Knitwits, 1997.

Dolly Bellows, The Intern (also known as Intern), Moonstone Entertainment, 2000.

Voice of Spike, Whispers: An Elephant's Tale, 2000.

Herself, The Making and Meaning of "We Are Family" (documentary; also known as We Are My Family), 2002.

Floressa, Hip! Edgy! Quirky!, 2002.

Voice of Joan Rivers, Shrek 2 (animated), DreamWorks, 2004.

Herself, First Daughter, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2004.

Herself, "Spaceballs": The Documentary (documentary short), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2005.

Herself, Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (documentary), Salient Media, 2007.

Making Trouble, 2007.

Also appeared in Shalom Sesame 6—Chanukah, Ergo Home Video.

Film Work:

Director, Rabbit Test, Avco Embassy, 1978.

Television Appearances; Series:

Guest and regular guest host, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1966-86.

Host, That Show Starring Joan Rivers (also known as That Show and The Joan Rivers Show), NBC, 1969.

The Hollywood Squares, syndicated, 1970-78.

Voice of narrator, "The Adventures of Letterman," The Electric Company, PBS, 1972-77.

Joan Rivers: Can We Talk?, BBC, 1986.

Host, The Late Show (also known as The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers), Fox, 1986-87.

The center square, The Hollywood Squares (also known as The New Hollywood Squares), syndicated, 1986-89.

Square One TV, PBS, 1987.

Host, The Joan Rivers Show, syndicated, 1989-94.

Host, Joan Rivers' Gossip! Gossip! Gossip!, USA Network, 1992-93.

Host, Can We Shop?, syndicated, 1993-94.

Meredith Dunston, Another World (also known as Another World: Bay City), NBC, 1997.

Guest, Hollywood Squares, syndicated, 1999-2004.

Presenter, The Joan Rivers Position, Channel 5, 2004-2006.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Bibi Grant, Jackie Collins's "Lady Boss" (also known as Lady Boss), NBC, 1992.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Irma Summers, How to Murder a Millionaire (also known as Bad Times in Beverly Hills, The Beverly Hills Get Rich Quick Murders, The Couch Potato Murders, and Your Money or Your Wife), CBS, 1990.

Tears and Laughter: The Joan and Melissa Rivers Story (also known as Life after Death and Starting Again), NBC, 1994.

Mom/Blanche Silver, Goosed, TMC, 2000.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The Shape of Things, CBS, 1973.

The Second Annual Comedy Awards, 1976.

Happy Birthday, Las Vegas, 1977.

ABC Presents Tomorrow's Stars, ABC, 1978.

Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes 4, CBS, 1979.

Performer, Circus of the Stars #5, CBS, 1980.

Lily—Sold Out, CBS, 1981.

(Archive footage) The Great Standups (also known as The Great Standups: Sixty Years of Laughter), 1984.

Garry Shandling: Alone in Vegas, 1984.

The 26th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1984.

An Audience with Joan Rivers, 1984.

Joan Rivers Presents "The Tonight Show" Comedians, NBC, 1984.

Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz, Showtime, 1985.

The Real Trivial Pursuit, ABC, 1985.

WrestleMania 2, Showtime, 1986.

NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986.

Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special (also known as George Burns' 90th Anniversary Special), CBS, 1986.

The Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1986.

The 38th Annual Emmy Awards, NBC, 1986.

The 39th Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1987.

Caesar's 20th Birthday Celebration, Showtime, 1987.

Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (also known as Christmas Special, Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse, and Pee-Wee Herman's Christmas Special), CBS, 1988.

NBC News Report on America: Stressed to Kill, NBC, 1988.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1989.

Second Annual Valvoline National Driving Test, CBS, 1990.

The Horror Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1990.

Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990.

Happy Birthday, Bugs: 50 Looney Years, CBS, 1990.

Comic Relief IV, HBO, 1990.

The World of Jewish Humor, PBS, 1990.

The 44th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1990.

The 11th Annual ACE Awards (also known as The Golden ACE Awards), Lifetime, Nickelodeon, Family Channel, Bravo, AMC, CNBC, and TBS, 1990.

The Horror Hall of Fame, 1990.

The 18th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, CBS, 1991.

The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1991.

Host, Showtime Comedy Club All-Stars V, Showtime, 1991.

Public Enemy Number 2, Showtime, 1991.

Alan King: Inside the Comedy Mind, Comedy Central, 1991.

Donahue: The 25th Anniversary, NBC, 1992.

Hats Off to Minnie Pearl: America Honors Minnie Pearl, 1992.

Joan Rivers: Abroad in London (also known as Showtime Comedy Superstars—Joan Rivers: Abroad in London), Showtime, 1992.

The Alistair Cooke Salute, PBS, 1992.

The 6th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1992.

The Full Wax, 1992.

In a New Light '93, ABC, 1993.

Laughing Matters (documentary; also known as Funny Business), Showtime, 1993.

The 48th Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1994.

Host, The Academy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1995.

The Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special (also known as Ed Sullivan's All-Star Comedy Special and The Very Best of Ed Sullivan IV), CBS, 1995.

Disney's Most Unlikely Heroes, ABC, 1996.

The Life and Death of Sam Kinison: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 1996.

Fifty Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997.

Host, The 1997 Academy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1997.

Host, The 1997 Academy Awards Post-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1997.

Host, The 1997 Primetime Emmy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1997.

Malcolm Forbes: High-Flying Millionaire, Arts and Entertainment, 1997.

Moderator, Leona Helmsley: The Next Chapter, Romance Classics, 1997.

Host, Fashion Emergency, E! Entertainment Television, 1997.

Host, The 1997 Golden Hanger Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 1997.

Host, World of Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, The 1998 Live Emmy Award Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, The 1998 Golden Hanger Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, The Golden Globe Awards Live Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, The 1998 Golden Globe Awards Live Post-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, The 1998 Golden Globe Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, The 1998 Academy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, Summer Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Intimate Portrait: Helen Gurley Brown, Lifetime, 1998.

Host, E! Academy Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, The 1998 Emmy Award Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1998.

Host, World of Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, The Live Emmy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, The End of the World Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

The 18th Annual American Fashion Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, Live Golden Globe Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

It's Only Talk: The Real Story of America's Talk Show, Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

Intimate Portrait: Joan Rivers, Lifetime, 1999.

Golden Hanger Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, Golden Globe Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, E! Academy Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

E! Academy Award Live Pre-Show '99, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, Cannes Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Assignment E! With Leeza Gibbons: The Thinning of Hollywood, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, Academy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Host, The 1999 Emmy Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Intimate Portrait: Judy Collins, Lifetime, 2000.

The Talk Show Story, 2000.

Host, Uncensored Golden Globe Arrivals, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Sensational Cities: New York, The Learning Channel, 2000.

Host, Primetime Emmy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Host, Political Convention Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Phyllis Diller: First Lady of Laughter, Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

Host, Golden Hanger Awards 2000, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Host, E! Academy Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Host, Cannes 2000 Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Host, The 2000 Golden Globe Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

Host, The 2000 Emmy Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 2000.

"Beauty," The Human Face, The Learning Channel, 2001.

Joan Rivers: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, The 2001 Academy Awards Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Phyllis Diller: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Oh Baby! Melissa's Guide to Pregnancy, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Mama Cass Elliot: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2001 Prime Time Emmy Awards Pre-Show, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2001 Grammys, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2001 Academy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet with Joan & Melissa Rivers, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Hollywood Unites: An E! News Special, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, Grammy Awards Fashion Review 2001, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, The 2001 Golden Hanger Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, The 2001 Golden Globes Fashion Review, E! Entertainment Television, 2001.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2002 People's Choice Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Heroes of Black Comedy, Comedy Central, 2002.

Stars: An Oscar's Party, 2002.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2002 Academy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Fashion Police Cannes 2002, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Just for Laughs (also known as Judith Lacy's "Just for Laughs"), 2002.

Cleavage, Arts and Entertainment, 2002.

Host, The 2002 Golden Globe Awards Fashion Police, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Marshalls' Women in Comedy, PAX, 2002.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2002 Grammy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2002 Golden Globe Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Host, Fashion Police: The 2002 Academy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2003 Academy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2003.

Richard Pryor: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2003.

Hollywood Squares: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2003.

100 Years of Hope and Humor, NBC, 2003.

Heroes of Jewish Comedy, 2003.

The 100 Greatest Musicals, 2003.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2004 Grammy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

Host, Live from the Red Carpet: The 2004 Academy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

Bob Monkhouse: A BAFTA Tribute, BBC, 2004.

Funny Already: A History of Jewish Comedy, Channel 4, 2004.

Host, CMT: 40 Greatest Done Me Wrong Songs, Country Music Television, 2004.

Happy Birthday Oscar Wilde, BBC, 2004.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Grammys, TV Guide, 2004.

VH1 Goes Inside "Live with Regis and Kelly," VH1, 2004.

TV Guide's Greatest Moments 2004, ABC, 2004.

Honoree, The 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, Comedy Central, 2004.

The Best of "So Graham Norton," 2004.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Golden Globes, TV Guide, 2005.

The Comedians' Comedian, Channel 4, 2005.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Academy Awards, TV Guide, 2005.

Britain's 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches, Channel 4, 2005.

50 Questions of Political Incorrectness, Sky Television, 2005.

Joan & Melissa: Live at the CMA Awards, 2005.

An Audience with Joan Rivers, ITV, 2006.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Academy Awards, TV Guide, 2006.

Host, Academy Awards Fashion Wrap with Joan and Melissa, TV Guide, 2006.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Emmys, 2006.

The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, NBC, 2006.

Emmy Awards Fashion Wrap with Joan and Melissa, TV Guide, 2006.

Host, Straight Talk, Bravo, 2006.

Joan Rivers: Before Melissa Pulls the Plug, Bravo, 2006.

The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits, PBS, 2006.

The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols, 2007.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Golden Globe Awards, 2007.

Golden Globes Fashion Wrap with Joan and Melissa, 2007.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Grammy Awards, 2007.

Host, Joan & Melissa: Live at the Academy Awards, 2007.

100 Greatest Stand-Ups, 2007.

Performer, The Royal Variety Performance 2007, ITV, 2007.

The 6th Annual TV Land Awards, TV Land, 2008.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Reporter, Comedy News II, ABC, 1973.

Aunt Joan, Z Rock, Independent Film Channel, 2008.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

The Hollywood Palace, 1966.

Toast of the Town (also known as The Ed Sullivan Show), 1966-70.

The Match Game, 1967.

Girl Talk, 1967.

Frost On Sunday, 1968.

Personality, 1968, 1969.

The Movie Game, 1970.

Can You Top This, 1971.

The Flip Wilson Show, 1971, 1972, 1973.

Stand Up and Cheer (also known as Johnny Mann's "Stand Up and Cheer"), 1973.

Joan, "Lucy and Joan Rivers Do Jury Duty," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1973.

The Carol Burnett Show (also known as Carol Burnett and Friends), 1975.

The Magnificent Marble Machine, 1975.

The Mike Douglas Show, 1976.

"Big Turkey and Super Quack," America 2-Night, 1978.

"Salvaged Romance/Our Son the Lawyer/Gopher's Daisy," The Love Boat, ABC, 1983.

Host, Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL), NBC, 1983.

The Bob Monkhouse Show, BBC, 1983, 1985.

On Stage America, 1984.

Aspel & Company, 1987.

The Dame Edna Experience, 1987.

Inside the Comedy Mind, 1988.

Offshore Television, 1988.

Herself, "You Gotta Have Art," 227, 1990.

The Howard Stern Show (also known as The Howard Stern Summer Show), 1990, 1991, 1992.

Alan King: Inside the Comedy Mind, 1991.

The Full Wax, BBC1 and Arts and Entertainment, 1991.

Square One TV, PBS, 1991.

Allan King: Inside the Comedy Mind, 1991.

Tonight with Jonathan Ross, 1991.

The Howard Stern Interview (also known as The Howard Stern "Interview"), 1993.

Howard Stern, E! Entertainment Television, 1994-2004.

Voice of Joan, "Studio Guy," Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist (animated), Comedy Central, 1995.

Clive Anderson Talks Back, Channel 4, 1995.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997.

Edie, "Oh, How They Danced: Parts 1 & 2," Suddenly Susan, NBC, 1998.

"Roddy McDowall: Hollywood's Best Friend," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1998.

The Howard Stern Radio Show, syndicated, 1999.

So Graham Norton, Channel 4, 2000.

Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, syndicated, 2000.

E! News Daily (also known as E! News Live and E! News Live Weekend), E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

"The Benadryl Brownie," Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO, 2002.

"Joan Rivers," The South Bank Show, ITV, 2002.

V Graham Norton, Channel 4, 2002.

I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!, ABC, 2003.

"Singers," When I Was a Girl, 2003.

The Wayne Brady Show, 2003.

Voice, Disney's "Dave the Barbarian," The Disney Channel, 2003.

The View, ABC, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.

Herself, "Not in My Dress You Won't," I'm With Her, 2004.

Herself, "Winners & Losers & Whiners & Boozers: Part 1," I'm With Her, ABC, 2004.

Film 2004 (also known as The Film Programme), BBC, 2004.

"Drew Carey/Dennis Franz," ALF's Hit Talk Show, TV Land, 2004.

The Graham Norton Effect, Comedy Central, 2004.

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, ITV, 2004.

(Uncredited) "Joan Rivers," Nip/Tuck, FX Channel, 2004.

This Morning (also known as This Morning with Richard and Judy), ITV, 2004, 2005.

Parkinson, BBC, 2004, 2005, 2007.

Larry King Live, CNN, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008.

Jack Dee Live at the Apollo (also known as Live at the Apollo), BBC, 2004, 2007.

Louise, "Pre-Wedded Bliss," Less Than Perfect, ABC, 2005.

Herself, "Ben White," Nip/Tuck, FX Channel, 2005.

The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, CNBC, 2005.

(Uncredited) Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 2005.

Good Day Live, syndicated, 2005.

The Late Late Show, CBS, 2005.

"Joan Rivers," Distinguished Artists, 2005.

Herself, "Julian Clary's Showbiz Hissy Fits," Favouritism, Channel 4, 2005.

Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, BBC, 2005.

The Paul O'Grady Show (also known as The New Paul O'Grady Show), ITV, 2005.

"Adjusted Gross," Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Bravo, 2005.

The Tony Danza Show, syndicated, 2005, 2006.

Live with Regis and Kelly, syndicated, 2005, 2006, 2007.

8 Out of 10 Cats, Channel 4, 2006, 2007.

Girls Who Do Comedy (also known as Dawn French's "Girls Who Do: Comedy"), BBC, 2006.

"All-Round Entertainers," The Story of Light Entertainment, BBC2, 2006.

"Impressionists," The Story of Light Entertainment, BBC2, 2006.

"Chat Shows," The Story of Light Entertainment, BBC2, 2006.

(Uncredited) Today (also known as NBC News Today and The Today Show), NBC, 2006.

Herself, "Whose God Is It Anyway?," Boston Legal, ABC, 2006.

"Holiday Special," Howard Stern on Demand (also known as Howard TV on Demand), 2006.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!, ABC, 2007.

"Suddenly Single," Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Bravo, 2007.

Martha, syndicated, 2007, 2008.

The Graham Norton Show, BBC, 2007, 2008.

Dateline NBC, NBC, 2007.

Sunday Morning Shootout (also known as Hollywood Shootout and Shootout), AMC, 2008.

Access Hollywood, syndicated, 2008.

"Joan Rivers," Shrink Rap, Channel 4, 2008.

Loose Women, ITV, 2008.

Celebrity Family Feud, NBC, 2008.

The Cho Show, VH1, 2008.

Also appeared in Later with Bob Costas, NBC; as herself, "Fabulous World of Faberge," Biography, Arts and Entertainment; "Bio's 15 Sexiest," Biography, Arts and Entertainment.

Television Work; Series:

Creator, Husbands, Wives, and Lovers, CBS, 1978.

Television Work; Specials:

Executive producer, Joan Rivers: Abroad in London (also known as Showtime Comedy Superstars—Joan Rivers: Abroad in London), Showtime, 1992.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Joan Rivers Presents Mr. Phyllis and Other Funny Stories, Warner Bros., 1965.

What Becomes a Semi-Legend Most?, Geffen Records, 1983.

Also appears on Ben Bagley's "Vernon Duke" Revisited, Painted Smiles Records; Carnival of the Animals.

Videos:

Captain Kangaroo and His Friends, The Corporation, 1985.

WrestleMania 2 (also known as Wrestlemania II), 1986.

A Woman's View of Pro Football, NFL Films, 1993.

Joan Rivers' Shopping for Fitness, Capital Cities/ABC Video, 1996.

Taped Readings:

Enter Talking, Dove Audio, 1986.

Still Talking, Dove Audio, 1991.

WRITINGS

Plays:

(With Lester Colodny and husband, Edgar Rosenberg) Fun City, Morosco Theatre, 1972.

A Work In Progress by a Life in Progress, Geffen Playhouse, Los Angeles, 2008.

Screenplays:

(With Jay Redack) Rabbit Test, Avco Embassy, 1978.

(With Robert Keeshan, Dolly Parton, and Phil Donahue) Captain Kangaroo and His Friends, The Corporation, 1985.

(With Tom Perew) Writer of jokes and baby dialogue, Look Who's Talking (also known as Daddy's Home), TriStar, 1989.

Television Movies:

(With Agnes Gallin) The Girl Most Likely To … (adapted from Rivers's story), ABC, 1973.

Television Specials:

Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz, Showtime, 1985.

Joan Rivers: Abroad in London (also known as Showtime Comedy Superstars—Joan Rivers: Abroad in London), Showtime, 1992.

CMT: 40 Greatest Done Me Wrong Songs, Country Music Television, 2004.

Straight Talk, Bravo, 2006.

Joan Rivers: Before Melissa Pulls the Plug, Bravo, 2006.

Television Pilots:

(With Hal Dresner) Husbands and Wives (basis for series Husbands, Wives, and Lovers), CBS, 1978.

Television Episodes:

Saturday Night Live (also known as SNL), NBC, 1983.

The Late Show (also known as The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers), Fox, 1986-87.

The Joan Rivers Show, syndicated, 1989-94.

Also wrote for Candid Camera, CBS; collaborated with Michael McWhinney for portions of The Ed Sullivan Show, CBS.

Nonfiction:

Having a Baby Can Be a Scream, illustrated by Frank Page, Hawthorn (New York City), 1975.

(With Richard Meryman) Enter Talking, Delacorte (New York City), 1986.

(With Meryman) Can We Talk?, Random House, 1991.

(With Meryman) Still Talking, Turtle Bay Books/Random House (New York City), 1991.

Jewelry by Joan Rivers, with photographs by Gordon Munro and Elizabeth Watt, Abbeville (New York City), 1995.

Bouncing Back: I've Survived Everything … and I Mean Everything … and You Can Too!, HarperCollins (New York City), 1997.

From Mother to Daughter: Thoughts and Advice on Life, Love and Marriage, Carol Publishing Company, 1998.

Don't Count the Candles: Just Keep the Fire Literature!, HarperCollins, 2000.

Other:

The Life and Hard Times of Heidi Abromowitz: A Totally Unauthorized Biography, Delacorte, 1984.

Nationally syndicated columnist for the Chicago Tribune, 1973-76; cowrote (with Melissa Rivers) column "She Says/She Says," McCall's, 1999-2000; cowrote (with Melissa Rivers), fashion column for Star magazine, 2002-03; wrote for entertainers Phyllis Diller and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Newsmakers, Issue 3, Thomson Gale, 2005.

Press, Skip, Melissa and Joan Rivers, Crestwood House (Parsippany, NJ), 1996.

St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000.

Periodicals:

Broadcasting & Cable, June 9, 1997, p. 24.

Entertainment Weekly, August 16, 1996, p. 76; February 6, 1998, p. 11.

Daily Mail (London), May 21, 2007, p. 30.

Entertainment Weekly, October 1, 2004, p. 34; January 21, 2005, p. 26.

Forbes, August 2, 1993, p. 18; April 25, 1994, p. 19.

Inc., June, 1999, p. 107.

Interview, January, 1993, p. 28.

Ladies Home Journal, November, 1991, p. 140.

New Yorker, January 30, 1995, pp. 33-35.

People Weekly, May 26, 1986, pp. 30-35; February 19, 1990, pp. 67-69; June 21, 1993, pp. 70-75; May 16, 1994, pp. 65-66; May 23, 1994, p. 37; April 29, 1996, p. 128; May 6, 1996, p. 51; June 24, 1996, p. 59; April 21, 1997, p. 37; September 1, 1997, p. 39; October 20, 1997, p. 55.

Time, April 11, 1983, pp. 85-86; May 16, 1994, p. 79.

Vanity Fair, February, 1997, p. 166; September 24, 2007, p. B2.

Electronic:

Joan Rivers Website,http://www.joanrivers.com, September 8, 2008.

About this article

Rivers, Joan 1933- (Pepper January)

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article